Litter on the sidewalk, a discarded couch on the roadside, bags of trash in the ditch: we have all seen examples of illegal dumping. Illegal dumping and litter is an eyesore, it is hazardous to the environment and public safety and is costly to taxpayers. The West Central Texas Council of Governments is re-introducing its educational campaign to address this growing problem.

This campaign is designed to work by capturing the public’s attention and delivering needed resources, whether it is a concerned citizen looking to report an act of illegal dumping or making information available on authorized disposal options. This campaign is not just about education and outreach. Environmental enforcement resources are available to investigate illegal dump sites, assist law enforcement, and produce results. Always consider your local law enforcement as a first line of defense.  Citizens are encouraged to get involved, take ownership and, most importantly, take action as part of the campaign to utilize available methods available for reporting illegal dumping. Citizens who find illegally dumped waste on their property or witness illegal dumping occurring, please call 1.877.897.DUMP(3867), the WCTCOG Regional Illegal Dumping Hotline.

Members of the public looking for authorized waste disposal facilities may consider visiting the following websites:

West Central Texas Council of Governments www.wctcog.org/wctcog/illdumping_form.php Texas Commission on Environmental Quality www.tceq.state.tx.us Don’t Mess with Texas (TXDOT) www.dontmesswithtexas.org Keep Texas Beautiful www.ktb.org Environmental Protection Agency www.epa.gov